Pokémon GO Holiday Event Details

Earlier this month the first parts of the Holiday event were revealed, giving us Holiday Pikachu and a new holiday loading screen. In the teardown for Pokémon GO APK 0.51.0, we discover some assets related to gifts. Though the true nature of these gifts have still not been revealed, they are shown in the featured image along with the details released today.

Hatch rates for Gen2 Pokémon increased

Niantic mentions the hatch rate for “Togepi (and other Pokémon)” have been increased from the morning of December 25, 2016, and through the afternoon of January 3, 2017 (PST). The “other Pokémon” could only be the recently released Gen2 baby Pokémon, which are the following:

Incubators from PokéStops!

Each first PokéStop spin of the day starting from the morning of December 25, 2016, and through the afternoon of January 3, 2017 (PST) will award a single use Incubator. This goes hand and hand with the increased hatch rate of Gen2 Pokémon, so start your new years resolution of working out early!

Gen1 starter spawns increased!

Gen1 starter Pokémon and their post evolutions are having their spawn rates increased from the afternoon of December 30, 2016, through the afternoon of January 8, 2017 (PST). These Pokémon include:

Holiday Pikachu staying a little longer

This limited-edition Pikachu was originally supposed to spawn from December 12th to December 29th. However, they’ve decided to extend Holiday Pikachu spawning “a bit longer”. What does this mean exactly? Well, they spell out two end dates for certain parts of the holiday event. January 3rd is when PokéStops stop giving single use incubators, and January 8th is when starter Pokémon from Gen1 stop spawning (at least at their increased holiday rate).

The spawn rate for Holiday Pikachu has also been increased for the remained of this event!

Lure Module duration increased!

During this event (December 30, 2016, through the afternoon of January 8, 2017 (PST)), lure modules will last 60 minutes instead of 30. Along with the increased duration, your chances of finding the Gen1 Pokemon listed above has also been increased!

What’s the deal with presents?

As we mentioned above, assets for presents were found in the last APK. Not only were different rarity boxes included, but there was also what looks to be a present button as well. Here are a few of our guesses so far:

Presents are given daily, starting with the Bronze Box leading up to the Ultra box.

Presents are found at random from PokéStops.

Captured Holiday Pickahu gives a present at random.

Presents are purchased from the store, either for yourself or to gift a friend.Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Update below!

Bronze Box

Ultra Box

Special Box

Silver Box

Great Box

Gold Box

Aside from speculation on how to obtain these presents, we haven’t even started on whats inside! Our guess would be premium items from the shop, along with common items found from PokéStops. I supposed we’ll find out soon enough!

Update (12/25/16)

Niantic flipped the switch server side and we finally know some details about presents! Presents can be found in the store, which has had its icon replaced with the present icon. Each “present” is a bundle of items sold at a discounted rate.

Special, Great, and Ultra Boxes

This first set of presents will be sold in the store from the morning of December 25 through the afternoon of December 30 (PST).

It should be noted that this is the first time ever Great Balls and Ultra Balls have been sold in the shop.

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Boxes (Updated 12/30/16)

This second set of present will be sold in the store from the afternoon of December 30 through the afternoon of January 3 (PST).

New Years Loading Screen (Updated 12/30/16)

We we’re already given a pretty epic holiday loading screen, but Niantic went and spoiled us again with this New Years loading screen featuring the new Gen2 Pokemon.